Maruti Suzuki Fronx Review: Newest Rival To Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet

The all-new Maruti Suzuki Fronx is a premium subcompact offering from the Nexa range and will be positioned between the Baleno and the Grand Vitara, from where it also takes a lot of its inspiration from.

What the Fronx, Maruti! What the Fronx! That was my exact reaction when I first heard the name at the Auto Expo 2023, and since then I haven’t been able to wrap my head around the name, Fronx! While I can understand that Maruti has a thing for quirky names, I mean we do have the Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Maruti Suzuki Alto, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, and Maruti Suzuki Baleno, and how can we forget the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso, as well as Suzuki Cappuccino in a few global markets, but the Fronx is hands down the most unusual name for a car. Keeping jokes aside, the all-new Maruti Suzuki Fronx is a premium subcompact offering from the Nexa range and will be positioned between the Baleno and the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, from where it also takes a lot of its inspiration from. But my question to Maruti is, does it really require yet another sub-compact car in an overly crowded space that also has the Brezza doing great sales numbers?

Exterior

Apart from the name, I’m also not convinced with the whole SUV terminology that Maruti is using for the Fronx. For me, it is a subcompact crossover, a Baleno on stilts decked up even more to look premium. But giving credit where it's due, Maruti has done a splendid job in that department. From the front, it resembles a lot like the Grand Vitara. Lots of muscle, lots of cuts & creases along the bumper to help with the aggressive look. Unlike the Grand Vitara, there’s less use of chrome, especially around the front grille.

We’ve seen a similar setup of the headlamps on a rival car but it goes well with the overall styling. I even like the faux skid plates added to the lower section of the car. Maruti has even utilised a substantial amount of black cladding all around to not only enhance its SUV character but also differentiate it from the Baleno.

The large wheel arches on the side and the overall design of the alloys look quite attractive. I particularly like the detailing at the back with the one-piece light bar joining the taillamps. This however is not available on the base versions. Of course, the car has a presence, but then again it could easily be mistaken for a Baleno unless observed with a keen eye. A few other differentiating elements could’ve made it easier but overall, I do hope that Fronx manages to impress its potential clientele.

Tech & Interior

Inside, I would’ve loved it if Maruti showed some originality. Instead, Maruti used the same components from the Baleno, Brezza, and even the Grand Vitara. The steering wheel, the instrument panel, and even the centre console are all sourced from the Baleno. Considering close to Rs. 1000 crore went into developing this car, some creativity would have been appreciated. Despite this, I quite like the look and feel of this cabin.

However, many features such as the heads-up display, 360 view cameras, Arkamys surround sound, Wireless charging, Suzuki Connect, and rear wiper and washer are retained from the Baleno but offered only with the top-spec versions.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are present in all except the base 1.2-litre unit. But some creature comforts such as ventilated seats or even a sunroof could’ve made a huge difference for the buyers.

Dimensions & Rear Seat Space

Let’s talk about some numbers now. In terms of dimensions, the Fronx sits on the same wheelbase as the Baleno but is longer, wider, and taller. But not by much though. It also sits higher with better ground clearance. Compare it with the Brezza’s proportions, and the Fronx comes out with just a superior wheelbase, and that too marginally.

It’s crucial that we address the rear seat spacing of this car and despite the marginal difference in dimensions, there’s more than a decent knee room but only adequate headroom. The seats seem quite comfortable with ample squab to relax on longer journeys. Surprisingly, only the Zeta and Alpha trims of the turbo versions receive rear AC and fast charging sockets.

Engine & Transmission

Maruti cars have always been tuned for both comfort and fuel efficiency. But the one time it brought an engine worth talking about, it was quickly taken off the shelf due to poor sales.

But, Maruti has again taken a very bold step and reintroduced its 1.0-litre BoosterJet engine. And this time, there’s also an automatic along with the manual transmission. Then there is also the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that does duty in a few other Maruti cars as well, coupled to either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT.

I would’ve preferred this version as well to drive, but the focus for today is just the turbos. Without a second thought, I hopped into the manual turbo version first.

Ride & Handling

There's no doubt that smaller displacement turbo petrol units are extremely fun to drive and the Fronx is no different. There's ample power on tap right from 2,000 rpm till about 4,500 rpm and that's exactly where the 3-pot system comes alive. Now compared to other turbo petrol’s of the Venue and the Sonet, this unit is not that peppy at the lower end and that's mainly because of the electric motor that keeps it in check so that you don't compromise on fuel efficiency. The power delivery is quite linear, but I really love the manual gearbox in this setup. It's extremely smooth and shifts quite comfortably and engages you throughout. Yes! The manual unit is extremely fun to drive and I could gladly spend an entire day driving through the narrow lanes of Goa in this. Even at the specially curated autocross track, I had the most fun with the manual Fronx. This time spent also gave me a bit of perspective.

Despite being a turbo unit, the refinement of the engine is praiseworthy, and the engineers have done a good job here. There's very little outside noise that sweeps inside even with the air conditioning turned off. The suspension setup is slightly on the firmer side but that doesn't really bother you going over bumps. I quite like the damping on this one as well.

Next up is the same tried & tested automatic unit from the Brezza. And if you’ve driven that car then you would surely know that there’s not much to expect. And so, it was clear where my allegiance lay. Now that I've driven both versions, I can say with conviction that my favourite is the manual version, simply because it's more engaging. With the torque converter, you do get the best of both worlds, since you also get paddle shifters that come into play when you want more control. But I feel it lacks a bit of punch.

Slow and confused shifts make this version less likable, but Maruti could’ve paid a bit more attention to tuning it better because that engine has a lot of potential. Having said that, Maruti could’ve easily done away with the hybrid unit on this powertrain making the engine even peppier.

And while everything plays out well for the Fronx, what doesn't work for me is the steering wheel. It is lightweight and there's no problem with it driving in the city, but I would've preferred firmer feedback from it to give more confidence going into the corners. The lightweight nature of the steering does help in managing tight spaces in the city…

Verdict

Maruti is aggressively going after a larger chunk of sales in the subcompact SUV space. While the Brezza is doing wonders in keeping the likes of Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet at bay. With the Fronx, the company will add a sense of premiumness to this segment. Looking at the larger picture though, there are chances that the Fronx could hurt the sales of the Brezza as well. Even more so because this time around, the turbo petrol will be locally produced. However, we would’ve loved to drive the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated unit since that will be the most preferred choice for the buyers. And of course, it will be more affordable than the turbo. Unless Maruti pulls a rabbit out of its hat and prices quite aggressively.

Given that the Hyundai Venue (not the N Line) and Kia Sonet (not even the X-Line) turbos are priced approximately between Rs. 10.43 lakh – Rs. 13.89 lakh (ex-showroom), I feel the right price for this turbo could be between Rs. 11 lakh to Rs. 12.50 lakh (ex-showroom) to keep things very interesting, while the 1.2L NA should be priced between Rs. 9 lakh to 11 lakh (ex-showroom).

Then there are also the likes of the Tata Nexon and Renault Kiger in the segment. So apart from hearing people mispronounce the name of the subcompact SUV, I am quite excited to see what the future holds for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx!

Photographer: Anand Malepu